New Insignia GSi fastest-ever Vauxhall at ‘Ring

23-Oct-2017

Vauxhall’s all-new Insignia GSi has demonstrated its exceptional performance levels at one of the world’s most challenging race circuits, Germany’s Nürburgring.

The GSi sits 10mm closer to the road than the rest of the Insignia range, and takes 160kg off the previous Insignia VXR. This makes it the fastest Vauxhall production car to take on the iconic German track.

Engineered for top performance

The superior performance of the new Insignia GSi is down to advances across the vehicle, which include:

all-wheel drive with torque vectoring

a new mechatronic FlexRide chassis

Brembo four-cylinder brakes

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tyres on 20-inch rims.

Power is delivered by a refined 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine supported by an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Shift-paddles on the steering wheel give the driver an active and highly responsive driving experience.

Having undergone extensive testing at the Nürburgring – nicknamed “the Green Hell” by legendary Formula 1 driver, Sir Jackie Stewart – the Insignia GSi took 12 seconds off the time set by the outgoing VXR model.

More precise and responsive

Vauxhall’s Director of Performance Cars and Motor Sport, Volker Strycek, led the development team working on the new Insignia GSi. He used the unique challenges of the Nürburgring to fine-tune the model for superb performance driving on any surface.

“The lightweight architecture, excellent chassis configuration and unique all-wheel drive system, along with the performance tyres, make the GSi as precise and sharp as we wanted it to be,” said Strycek after his test drives.

“The results speak for themselves, and the new Insignia GSi can lap the Nürburgring up to 12 seconds faster than its more powerful VXR predecessor. Where the course becomes more demanding and requires the car to react with more agility and precision, such as in

the corners or stretches with low friction, the GSi is definitely faster and easy to control.”

Driving, your way

Drivers can choose from three key driving modes, Standard, Tour and Sport, while Vauxhall has also developed a fourth setting, ‘Competition’, exclusively for the Insignia GSi.

With a double press of the ESP button, the GSi switches the traction control off and allows more yaw, giving skilled drivers the chance to excel when on the track.

Elsewhere, the fine-tuned engine creates the most efficient Insignia ever, with refined dynamics when compared to the already agile Insignia Grand Sport, and generating 400Nm of torque.

The new Insignia GSi will be available in either Grand Sport or Sports Tourer bodystyles when it arrives in Vauxhall showrooms next year.